An implantable pump system for assisting blood flow includes a conduit adapted to be placed in fluid connection with a blood vessel and at least one movable valve in fluid connection with the conduit. The valve includes at least one closure member in operative connection with an opening therein. The pump system further includes and an activating system adapted to actively move the closure member toward at least one of a closed position or an open position and a drive system to move the valve. The closure member can, for example, be biased toward an open position.Related Terms:Blood VesselImplantImplantable Pump

The following information is provided to assist the reader to understand the technology described below and certain environments in which such technology can be used. The terms used herein are not intended to be limited to any particular narrow interpretation unless clearly stated otherwise in this document. References set forth herein may facilitate understanding of the technology or the background thereof. The disclosure of all references cited herein are incorporated by reference.

Heart failure, or the inability of the heart to pump sufficient blood for the body's needs, results in very poor quality of life, huge costs to society, and hundreds of thousands of yearly deaths. Heart failure is caused by an abnormally low cardiac output. Cardiac output is the outflow of blood from the heart and can be measured in liters of blood flow per minute or LPM. Cardiac output for a normal man at rest or during light activity is approximately 5 liters per minute. Severe heart failure exists when the cardiac output is between approximately 2.5 to 3.5 liters per minute. For an average man in heart failure having a heart rate of 80 beats per minute, the average amount of blood that is pumped with each heartbeat (sometimes referred to as stroke volume) might, for example, be 37 milliliters or ml. If the same man was not in heart failure, his heart might, for example, pump 62 milliliters with each heartbeat. An effective treatment for such heart failure would be to increase the low, 37 ml stroke volume up to the normal, 62 ml stroke volume.

The main pumping chamber of the heart or left ventricle or LV includes an inlet mitral valve and an outlet aortic valve. During left ventricular contraction or systole, the inlet valve closes as blood is pushed through the aortic valve into the aorta or main artery to the body. When the LV is resting during diastole, LV pressure may be between 2 and 20 mm of Hg pressure. This diastolic pressure is termed the LV preload. The preload will be in the higher end of its pressure range during heart failure. During active LV contraction or systole, the LV must eject its blood against the pressure in the aorta. Aortic pressure is typically between 70 and 140 mm Hg Pressure. This aortic pressure is termed the after-load. It is well known that, if the after-load is reduced in heart failure, the LV stroke volume will naturally increase and this increase is one reason that afterload-reducing drugs such as ACE-inhibitors help heart failure patients.

Blood pumps which lower the aortic pressure after-load can be desirable because such pumps allow the failing LV to eject more blood with less effort. However, no commercially available afterload reducing devices have thus far been shown to be practical for extended support of the failing LV. Instead, all long term (that is, months to years), commercially available heart assist devices, whether rotary turbine pumps or collapsing chamber pumps, go around or bypass the failing LV, pumping blood from the LV apex through the pump into the aorta. By doing so, those pumps act in parallel to the LV and compete with the LV in their pumping action. This pumping competition has several negative complications including right heart failure, fusion of the aortic valve over time and the risk of collapsing the LV. Collapsing chamber pumps are physically large and thus cannot be implanted in some small patients. Rotary turbine pumps are smaller, but have other limiting complications. For example, rotary turbine pumps induce high levels of shear stress in the blood elements and also may reduce the normal pulsatility of the blood entering the aorta. High shear stress on the blood cells promotes blood clotting which can lead to strokes and heart attacks. Physicians try to reduce this blood clotting by giving the patients anticoagulants, which, in turn, puts the patients at risk of excessive bleeding. These clotting and bleeding complications are substantial limitations to broader use of rotary turbine assist pumps.

For short-term heart assist (that is, hours to days), counterpulsation devices such as intraaortic balloon pumps or IABPs provide an afterload-reducing type of cardiac assist. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,733,652 and 3,692,018. The main benefit of such devices stems from after-load reduction of the left ventricle during systole and providing increased diastolic pressure for perfusing the coronary and other arteries during diastole. Typical patients needing this type of treatment suffer from cardiogenic shock or need perioperative circulatory support. The nature of IABP design restricts IABP to acute use only, since the bulky balloon drive mechanism remains outside the patient's body, necessitating patient confinement to a hospital bed.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,840 discloses a “dynamic aortic patch” which is surgically and permanently attached to the patient's descending aorta and is pneumatically activated by an external air pump. That pump lowers the LV after-load, facilitating left ventricular contraction and increasing stroke volume.

Pouch-type auxiliary ventricles attached to the patient's aorta have also been described. These devices use mechanical or pneumatic devices for pumping the blood contained in the pouch. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,553,736 and 4,034,742. Some of these devices have a single access port to the aorta that serves as both the inlet and the outlet for blood flow. Single port designs have the disadvantage of recirculation and relative flow stagnation, increasing the risk of clot formation and thromboembolism. Pouch-type auxiliary ventricles having both inlet and outlet ports to the aorta and are typically connected in parallel with the aorta. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,195,623 and 4,245,622.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,676,162, 5,676,651, and 5,722,930, disclose a single-stroke, moving valve pump designed for ascending aortic placement. That device uses a commercially available artificial heart valve with attached magnets and requires excision of a portion of the aorta. A series of separate electric coils step the valve/magnet combination forward in a sliding action within a cylinder. The device is quite large for the limited space available between the heart and the take-off vessels from the aorta to the upper body and brain. The device is designed to have one stroke in synchronization with each LV systole. The blood volume required for closing commercially available heart valves is typically 2-5 ml and therefore multiple smaller oscillations per heart contraction in such devices would suffer from volumetric inefficiency. Another problem with such devices is the tight crevice between the cylinder wall and the moving valve. This tight space results in high blood shear and the corresponding risk of stroke or blood clotting complications if anti-coagulant therapy is necessary. The same problem exists with a moving valve pump disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,409, which included two valves (one stationary and one moving).

U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,281 discloses an oscillatory valve blood pump that is external to the body and fits in an enclosure the size of a briefcase. The pump uses a stationary coil to attract a magnetic tube encasing a one-way valve. A forward stroke of the one-way valve propels blood until the tube assembly stops and is repelled backward by return leaf springs that are charged during the forward stroke. A second stationary valve is sometimes in the circuit. A stretchable silicone rubber tube connects the tube or pipe-valve assembly with the pump inlet and outlet.

Nitta, S. et al., “The Newly Designed Univalved Artificial Heart,” ASAIO Transactions Vo. 37, No. 3, M240-M241 (1991) describes a “univalved artificial heart” powered electro-magnetically wherein the valve oscillates within a frequency range of 1 to 30 Hz. The valve is contained in a tube, with attached magnetic material. Stationary electric coils actuate the tube-magnet-valve combination. The valve is described as a jellyfish valve. A problem with jellyfish valves is the compound curvature or wrinkling of the membrane that occurs when the valve opens and closes. One can liken the action of the jellyfish valve to that of an umbrella that oscillates between a circular flat membrane and a wrinkled umbrella shape as it closes and opens. Wrinkling of the membrane is virtually impossible to prevent in a jellyfish valve and introduces stresses and strains that significantly limit the life of the valve.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,012 also uses a jellyfish valve in a vibrating pipe blood pump intended for use outside the body. Because the vibrating tube pump portion is separable from the drive mechanism. the blood-contacting portion of the pump is disposable.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,588,530, describes a moving valve pump having a curved blood flow path as well as a moving valve pump having a linear blood flow path. U.S. Pat. No. 7,588,530 discloses various drive mechanisms to oscillate the moving valve in synchronization with the R wave of the patient's electrocardiogram. In the case of a pump having a linear blood flow path, a linear motor is disclosed to drive the moving valve thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 7,588,530 further discloses moving valves including a plurality of openings or ports wherein each port includes a resilient flap of material to open the port upon rearward movement of the moving valve and close the port upon forward movement of the moving valve.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,216 disclose a typical mechanical heart valve used as a substitute for a malfunctioning natural human aortic heart valve, which includes a valve ring with two hard leaflets that swing nearly 90 degrees to open and close the valve. The leaflets used in mechanical heart valves are typically hard ceramic materials that block backward flow when closed. The opening and closing of the leaflets is caused by the direction of blood passing through the valve. To prevent the leaflets from escaping the confines of the valve ring, the leaflets have bilateral “ears” that are positioned within valve ring cavities. Thus, the leaflets cannot escape the valve ring but are allowed to freely pivot by ability of the ears to rotate within the valve ring cavities.

Patients with mechanical heart valves have a risk of cerebrovascular strokes that are caused by blood clots coming from the mechanical valve. This stroke risk is on the order of 1 to 3 percent per patient per year. To minimize this clotting risk, patients with mechanical valves are prescribed the anti-coagulation drug Coumadin, that is known to retard the ability of the blood to clot. There are several suspected causes for the blood clotting risk. Flow turbulence within the valve ring cavities causes shear strain on blood. Shear strain is known to activate blood platelets, and activated platelets are known to start the blood clotting process. Leakage of blood through tight crevices of coapted surfaces of the closed or closing leaflets on to the leaflet landing surfaces can also be a source of blood shear strain. Another possible cause of clotting/stroke risk is the non-biologic nature of the valve materials.

Numerous pharmacologic, biologic, and mechanical interventions have been devised to address heart disease/failure. Nonetheless, heart failure remains a major public health problem with an estimated five million victims in the United States alone.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, an implantable pump system for assisting blood flow includes a conduit adapted to be placed in fluid connection with a blood vessel and at least one movable valve in fluid connection with the conduit. The valve includes at least one closure member in operative connection with an opening therein. The pump system further includes and an activating system adapted to actively move the closure member toward at least one of a closed position or an open position and a drive system to move the valve. The closure member may, for example, be biased toward an open position. The conduit may be flexible over at least a portion thereof.

The activating system may, for example, be adapted to maintain the at least one closure member at or near the closed position during at least a portion of forward motion of the valve. The activating system may, for example, be adapted to move the closure member toward a closed position so that the opening of the valve is closed or nearly closed upon the initiation of forward motion of the valve relative to a direction of flow of blood through the blood vessel from the heart.

In a number of embodiments, the activating system includes at least one abutment member. An abutment member may, for example, be positioned within a blood flow path of the pump system to contact at least one of the plurality of closure members to move the at least one of the plurality of rigid closure member toward a closed position.

The valve may, for example, include a plurality of closure members in operative connection with the control system. At least one of the closure members may, for example, be biased to an open position.

In a number of embodiments, the activating system is positioned outside of a blood flow path of the pump system. In a number of embodiments, the activating system includes at least one abutment member positioned outside the conduit.

The valve may include a support structure including the opening. The conduit, which may be a flexible conduit, may be attached to the support structure. In a number of embodiments, the conduit is flexible and is attached to the support structure. The closure member is positioned within the opening and is rotatable about an axis to a closed position and to a range of open positions. The axis may, for example, be defined by a rotatable shaft connected to the closure member. In a number of embodiments, the rotatable shaft passes through the valve support structure. The pump system may further include a seal between the rotatable shaft and the valve support structure that prevents blood leakage through a space between the rotating shaft and valve support structure.

In a number of embodiments, the valve includes a first closure member positioned within the opening and at least a second closure member positioned within the opening. The first closure member may be rotatable about a first axis to a closed position and to a range of open positions, and the second closure member may be rotatable about a second axis to a closed position and to a range of open positions. The first closure member may, for example, have a generally semicircular cross-section, and the second closure member may, for example, have a generally semicircular cross-section.

The first axis may be defined by a first rotatable shaft connected to the first closure member, and the second axis may be defined by a second rotatable shaft connected to the second closure member. In a number of embodiments, the first shaft passes through at least a portion of the support structure. The pump system may further include a first seal in contact with the first shaft and the support structure. The second shaft may also pass through at least a portion of the support structure. The pump system may further include a second seal in contact with the second shaft and the support structure.

In a number of embodiments, the first seal includes a first inner connecting member fixed in position relative to the first shaft, a first outer connecting member in fixed position relative to the support member and a first flexible sealing member extending between the first inner connecting member and the first outer connecting member. At least a portion of the first flexible sealing member moves with rotation of the first shaft. The second seal may, for example, include an second inner connecting member fixed in position relative to the second shaft, a second outer connecting member fixed in position relative to the support member and a second flexible sealing member extending between the second inner connecting member and the second outer connecting member. At least a portion of the second flexible sealing member moves with rotation of the first shaft.

In a number of embodiments, the first inner connecting member includes a resilient annular member, the first outer connecting member includes a resilient annular member and the first flexible sealing member includes an elastomeric material. Likewise, in a number of embodiments, the second inner connecting member includes a resilient annular member, the second outer connecting member includes a resilient annular member and the second flexible sealing member includes an elastomeric material.

In a number of embodiments, the activating system includes a first gear in operative connection with the first shaft external to conduit blood flow path of the pumps system, a second gear in operative connection with the second shaft external to the blood flow path and an extending rack positioned between the first gear and the second gear. The pump system can further include an abutment member positioned outside the blood flow path. Cooperation of the abutment member with the extending rack causes the extending rack to move in a first direction to cause the first gear and the first shaft to rotate the first rigid closure member toward the closed position and to cause the second gear and the second shaft to rotate the second rigid closure member toward the closed position.

The first gear and the second gear may, for example, be biased by a biasing system to rotate the first rigid closure member toward an open position and to rotate the second rigid closure member toward an open position. The biasing system can be in operative connection with the extending rack.

The activating system may be adapted to maintain the first closure member and the second closure member at or near the closed position during at least a portion of forward motion of the valve.

In a number of embodiments, the pump system further includes a system in operative connection with the biasing system to maintain the first closure member and the second closure member at or near the closed position during initial forward motion of the valve. The biasing system may, for example, include a collapsible enclosure within a fluid. The collapsible enclosure may be operatively connected to the extending rack. The collapsible enclosure may, for example, be forced against a contact element when the extending rack is moved in the first direction upon contact with the abutment member to collapse the collapsible enclosure. The collapsible enclosure may include a one-way valve via which fluid is expelled from the enclosure when the enclosure is collapsed. The collapsible enclosure may further include a fluid inlet system including at least one inlet port to allow fluid to enter the collapsible enclosure in a controlled manner upon expansion of the collapsible enclosure. Expansion of the collapsible enclosure causes the rack to move in a direction opposite the first direction.

The position of the at least one abutment member may, for example, be changeable to prevent maintaining of closure of the valve. In a number of embodiments, a shape memory alloy is used to change position of the at least one abutment member via a change in current applied to the shape memory alloy.

In a number of embodiments, the closure member is rigid over at least a portion thereof. In a number of such embodiments, the first closure member includes a first rigid base fixed to the first shaft and a first blood contacting layer encompassing the first base. The first rigid base can, for example, include a rigid material connected to the first shaft. The first blood contacting layer can include a blood compatible flexible material.

In a number of embodiments, the drive system includes a rotary motor, a speed reducing system in operative connection with the rotary motor and a convertor operatively connected to the speed reducing system. The converter is operatively connected to the valve to drive the valve in a reciprocating manner. In a number of embodiments, the speed reducer includes a spur gear driving a ring gear, wherein the converter is operatively connected to the speed reducer. The ring gear may, for example, be in operative connection with the converter. In a number of embodiments, the converter includes an eccentric member extending from the ring gear. In a number of embodiments, the converter further includes a rotating element connected to the eccentric member that engages a cam member operatively connected to the valve to drive the valve in a reciprocating, linear manner.

The conduit may, for example, be a flexible conduit positioned within a sealed housing. A volume between the flexible conduit and housing may, for example, be filled with an aqueous fluid having dissolved solutes to provide an osmolarity approximately equal to the osmolarity of blood. The fluid may, for example, be an aqueous salt solution. The drive system may, for example, be in fluid connection with the volume, and the fluid may be present within the drive system. In a number of embodiments, the fluid is adapted to dissipate heat from the drive system. The fluid may, for example, include at least one hydrophilic lubricant.

In another aspect, an implantable pump system for assisting blood flow includes a conduit adapted to be placed in fluid connection with a blood vessel and at least one movable valve in fluid connection with the conduit. The movable valve includes a support structure including an opening. At least one closure member is positioned within the opening. The closure member is rotatable about an axis to a closed position and to a range of open positions. The closure member is rigid over at least a portion thereof. The pump system further includes a drive system to move the valve. In a number of embodiments, the closure member is biased to move toward an open position.

In a number of embodiments, a first closure member is positioned within the opening and a second closure member is positioned within the opening. The first closure member is rotatable about a first axis to a closed position and to a range of open positions, and the second closure member is rotatable about a second axis to a closed position and to a range of open positions. The first closure member is rigid over at least a portion thereof, and the second closure member is rigid over at least a portion thereof. The first closure member can, for example, have a generally semicircular cross-section, and the second closure member can, for example, have a generally semicircular cross-section.

The first axis may, for example, be defined by a first rotatable shaft connected to the first closure member. The second axis may, for example, be defined by a second rotatable shaft connected to the second closure member. The first shaft can pass through at least a portion of the support structure. A first seal may, for example, be in contact with the first shaft and the support structure. The second shaft may also pass through at least a portion of the support structure. A second seal may, for example, be in contact with the second shaft and the support structure.

In a number of embodiments, the first seal includes a first inner connecting member fixed in position relative to the first shaft, a first outer connecting member in fixed position relative to the support member and a first flexible sealing member extending between the first inner connecting member and the first outer connecting member. At least a portion of the first flexible sealing member moves with rotation of the first shaft. The second seal may similarly include a second inner connecting member fixed in position relative to the second shaft, a second outer connecting member in fixed position relative to the support member and a second flexible sealing member extending between the second inner member and the second outer member. At least a portion of the second flexible sealing member moves with rotation of the first shaft.

The first inner connecting member may, for example, include a resilient annular member. The first outer connecting member may, for example, include a resilient annular member. The first flexible sealing member can, for example, include an elastomeric material. The second inner connecting member may, for example, include a resilient annular member. The second outer connecting member may, for example, include a resilient annular member. The second flexible sealing member may, for example, include an elastomeric material.

In a number of embodiments, the pump system further includes an activating system in operative connection with the closure member to actively move the member. The first closure member may, for example, be biased to move toward an open position, and the second closure member may, for example, be biased to move toward an open position.

The activating system may, for example, be in operative connection with the first closure member and the second closure member to actively move the first rigid member to the closed position and to actively move the second rigid member toward the closed position before initiation of forward motion of the valve relative to a direction of flow of blood through the blood vessel from the heart.

In a number of embodiments, the pump system includes at least one bearing in operative connection with the first rotatable shaft outside of the first seal and at least one bearing in operative connection with the second rotatable shaft outside of the second seal. The bearing in operative connection with the first rotatable may, for example, be a rolling element bearing. and the bearing in operative connection with the second rotatable may, for example, be a rolling element bearing.

In another aspect, a seal to form a seal between a first element and a second element, wherein at least one of the first element and the second element is moveable relative to the other of the first element and the second element, includes a first connecting member, a second connecting member and a flexible sealing member extending between the first connecting member and the second connecting member. The first connecting member is adapted to be fixedly attached to the first element, and the second connecting member is adapted to be fixedly attached to the second element. The flexible sealing member provides for relative movement between the first member and the second member while maintaining a seal therebetween. In a number of embodiments, the first inner connecting member includes a resilient annular member, the first outer connecting member includes a resilient annular member, and the first flexible sealing member includes an elastomeric material. In a number of embodiments, the second inner connecting member includes a resilient annular member, the second outer connecting member includes a resilient annular member, and the second flexible sealing member includes an elastomeric material.

In a further aspect, a method of operating a pump system for assisting blood flow, wherein the pump system includes a conduit adapted to be placed in fluid connection with a blood vessel and at least one movable valve in fluid connection with the conduit, and wherein the movable valve includes an opening and at least a first closure member in operative connection with the opening therein, includes actively moving the first closure member toward at least one of a closed position or an open position.

In a number of embodiments, the method includes actively moving the first closure member toward a closed position so that the opening of the valve is closed or nearly closed upon the initiation of forward motion of the valve relative to a direction of flow of blood through the blood vessel from the heart. The method may also include actively maintaining the first closure member closed or nearly closed for at least a period of time upon initiation of forward motion of the valve. The method may further include biasing the first closure member to move toward an open position.

In a number of embodiments, the valve includes second closure member positioned within the opening, and the method further includes actively maintaining the second closure member closed or nearly closed for at least a period of time upon initiation of forward motion of the valve. The method may further include biasing the second closure member to move toward and open position.

In still a further aspect, an implantable pump system for assisting blood flow includes a conduit adapted to be placed in fluid connection with a blood vessel. at least one movable valve in fluid connection with the conduit, the valve including at least one closure member in operative connection with an opening therein, a biasing system adapted to actively bias the closure member to move toward an open position; and a drive system to move the valve.

In a number of embodiments, the projected average life of pump systems hereof is intended to be that of current heart transplants, namely approximately 10 years.

The technology described herein, along with the attributes and attendant advantages thereof, will best be appreciated and understood in view of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the human heart including some of the surrounding vasculature and some of the surrounding organ structure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a pump system hereof placed in line with the ascending aorta.

FIG. 3A illustrates a front view of the pump system of FIG. 2 with closure members of the valve assembly of the pump system in a partially open state.

FIG. 3B illustrates a perspective view of the pump system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3C illustrates a side view of the pump system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4A illustrates another side view of the pump system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the pump system of FIG. 2 along section A-A of FIG. 4A wherein the valve closure members are in a closed state.

FIG. 4C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the pump system of FIG. 2 along section A-A of FIG. 4A wherein the valve closure members are in an open state.

FIG. 4D illustrates an embodiment of a drive system for use in pump systems hereof.

FIG. 4E illustrates a side view of the drive system of FIG. 4D.

FIG. 4F illustrates a cross sectional view of the drive system of FIG. 4D along section C-C.

FIG. 4G illustrates several geared roller elements suitable for use in rolling element bearing of the drive system of FIG. 4D in various orientations.

FIG. 4H illustrates a front view of the drive system of FIG. 4D.

FIG. 5A illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a shaft for a rotary motor for used in pump system hereof in operative connection with a rolling element bearing.

FIG. 5B illustrates a rear view of the shaft and bearing assembly of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the shaft and bearing assembly of FIG. 5A along section D-D of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5D illustrates a rear perspective view of the shaft and bearing assembly of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5E illustrates a perspective cutaway view of the shaft and bearing assembly of FIG. 5A wherein the assembly is cut along section D-D of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5F illustrates a perspective, exploded or disassembled view of the shaft and bearing assembly of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A illustrates a perspective, exploded or disassembled view of the pump system of FIG. 2 with the housing sections removed.

FIG. 6B illustrates a perspective, exploded or disassembled view of a flow conduit assembly and curved connector of the pump system of FIG. 2 with the housing section of the flow conduit removed.

FIG. 6C illustrates a perspective view of the flow conduit assembly and curved connector of the pump system of FIG. 2 (with the housing section of the flow conduit removed) and an embodiment of a converter for converting rotary motion to reciprocating motion.

FIG. 6D illustrates a perspective view of the flow conduit assembly and curved connector of the pump system of FIG. 2 (with the housing section of the flow conduit removed) and another embodiment of a converter for converting rotary motion to reciprocating motion.

FIG. 6E illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a race member and roller elements thereof for used in a linear bearing.

FIG. 7A illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a linear rolling element bearing for use in the pump systems hereof.

FIG. 7B illustrates a top view of the linear rolling element bearing of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7C illustrates a side view of the linear rolling element bearing of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7E illustrates several geared roller elements suitable for use in the linear rolling element bearing of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8A illustrates a perspective view another embodiment of a valve assembly hereof including a closure member activating system to actively move the closure members toward and open position or toward a closed position.

FIG. 8B illustrates a perspective view of a section of the valve assembly of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8C illustrates another perspective view of a section of the valve assembly of FIG. 8A wherein seals have been removed.

FIG. 8D illustrates a top plan view an embodiment of a seal for use in connection with a shaft of a closure member of the valve assembly of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8E illustrates a side cutaway view of the seal of FIG. 8D.

FIG. 8F illustrates a perspective exploded or disassembled view and a perspective assembled view of the seal of FIG. 8D.

FIG. 8G illustrates a side cutaway view of the seal of FIG. 8D installed in a sleeve or sheath which can be placed in sealed connection with the valve assembly.

FIG. 8H illustrates a top plan view an embodiment of the seal of FIG. 8D installed in the sleeve or sheath of FIG. 8G.

FIG. 8I illustrates a front view of the valve assembly of FIG. 8A with the closure member thereof in a closed position.

FIG. 8J illustrates a side view of the valve assembly of FIG. 8A with the closure member thereof in a closed position.

FIG. 8K illustrates a top view of the valve assembly of FIG. 8A wherein an upper closure of a linear rolling element bearing in operative connection with the rack of the activating system is removed and wherein the closure member thereof in an open position.

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